I'd Like To Take This Opportunity To Send Paula Zahn The Big "Fuck You" -- CNN's Biased Coverage of Love In Action

If it wasn't obvious from the wash job performed by Paula Zahn and the crew over at CNN already, it should be clear to everyone now. The new conservative media has found its way into the Love In Action issue by providing unabashedly biased coverage of the debate on ex-gay reparative therapies.

Last night's episode of Paula Zahn Now would have been enough, but Paula Zahn Now has decided to go that extra step -- tonight's show is described as "Gay to straight. One man says he has changed his ways. We’ll tell you how he says he did it." It just demonstrates that news organizations like CNN are willing to trade their track record for fair reporting for dimbulb reporting and a vain attempt at obtaining ratings they will never have again. CNN's abusive misrepresentation of the dangers of reparative therapy marks another chapter in the long spiral downward of one of America's great news organizations. If CNN wants to be the new Fox News, they'll have to do a lot better than picking through the trash of the real issues for their soundbytes.

Paula Zahn and company, please allow me to initiate a very public and well-deserved FUCK YOU SWEETHEART because, after all, I have no mastery of the English language and I don't speak boob job and facelift nearly as well as you do. I guess all those things Radar Magazine had to say about you were true after all?

The real story of the day was Good Morning America's debate between Brandon Tidwell and Gerard Wellman in which equal time was provided for the discussion of the central issue here: the dangers of reparative therapy. Chalk one up to ABC News for looking at the issue instead of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Your thoughts, comments, and opinions are welcomed.

Good Evening Murphy's, Ho wAre yOuu (belch)

TONIGHT'S GUEST DJ's: Chris Weary and DJ Franswa (aka Cort). UNNNGH, AH BEE DAT.

Good Evening, Paula Zahn, How Are You?

This evening on the CNN show Paula Zahn NOW, a story will air about Love In Action and, potentially, similar camps. Story header: "Your child says he or she is gay. Now there’s a camp that says it can set these kids straight. Would you put your child through this? Tune in at 8 p.m. ET. "

Starts at 8pm EST/7pm CST only on CNN.

Good Morning America, How Are You?

Tomorrow morning on Good Morning America, Brandon Tidwell and Gerard Wellman will face off against one another in what is sure to be a nail-biting ten minutes of television. Brandon Tidwell is an active and respected member of the Memphis community as well as a former client of Love In Action (who has since renounced the ex-gay lifestyle and openly attacked Love In Action's practices).. Gerard Wellman is a graduate of Love In Action who continues to live the ex-gay lifestyle while working as Love In Action's business administrator.

I'm ready to see some sparks fly, what about you?

Bloggin Ain't Easy But Somebody Gotta Do It

"You know it's hard out here for a pimp when you tryin' to get this money for the rent. For the Cadillacs and gas money spent will have a whole lotta bitches jumpin' ship." -- Hustle and Flow

Before the movie hit the theaters, before a frame was lensed, before it won the audience award at Sundance, I (and many other Memphians) knew. I knew weeks ago, months ago that Hustle and Flow would be considered a crowning achievement in Memphis cinema history. What I didn't know was how lucky we are to have people like Craig Brewer, the hometown-loving filmmaker filled with fascinating ideas and enough chutzpah to put them out there, showing their affection for the town we live in.

Before you start with your "it's just another rap flick" chatter, I would like to make some observations about the film for outsiders. Number 1, it's overwhelmingly accurate -- to the point of stereotype, but absolutely correct and on point. Anyone watching Hustle and Flow trying to tell you Memphis isn't like this is seriously misrepresenting what we live in every day down here in the hopes you'll believe what they're spittin' at you. Memphis is pimps, playas, hustlas, ho's, bitches, tricks, 30's on Yokohamas with spinnaz glossing an '82 Chevette, running game, spittin' lyrics, doin' time, chasing the dream, poor and hungry, proud as hell. Changes do not come around quickly here, time moves at its own pace. There are about 12 people who control everything that goes on in our city, and they like it that way. They don't want it to change, and nobody is stepping up quickly enough or with enough money in their pockets to make that change happen any faster.

In many regards, Memphis is a city that is for sale, yet at the same time we are absolutely not for sale. This is what we come from, rich or poor, and there is no need for the minority population of our city (meaning the people with all the money who ran away to Cordova and Collierville because they're scared of blacks and gays) to try and point you in any other direction.

In fact, Memphis has all of that. It's a diverse dichotomy of lifestyles punched against one another, stilted traditions, racism, people controlling corners, leary of outsiders and fierce independence. There are more churches than gas stations, every public school is a halfway house, every business (except FedEx, AutoZone and International Paper) is understaffed. According to Wikipedia, "The per capita income for the city is $17,838. 20.6% of the population and 17.2% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 30.1% of those under the age of 18 and 15.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line." Deciphering the fine print: Memphis ain't bullshittin', and neither is Hustle and Flow.

It's 102 degrees outside today in the shade, people are melting on their front porches sipping ice waters and fanning themselves with old newspapers or, if you are lucky enough to have air conditioning in your car, rolling around town with the music turned up full blast, bass banging out of the trunk and the a/c blasting it's cool breezes past your sweat-drenched skin. And somewhere in this city of dreams, someone is trying to make a name for themselves doing the thing they love. It might be me, it might be you, it might be any of us. But the poverty, the crime, the dichotomy of our clashing lifestyles being in such close proximity with one another all lend themselves to the struggle for that goal.

It may be no different anywhere in America, but not every city in America has a film like Hustle and Flow to let people know how things really go on the other side of this town.

I grew up in Memphis on the edge of the suburbs. My father insisted that we stay in Memphis. He bought the one house "so close to Germantown that we don't live there, but we can spit on the people who do if we want to". In fact, the dividing line between Germantown and Memphis ran (truthfully) right down the middle of our street. For many years, I didn't know about South-South and North-North, Nutbush, Millbranch, Jackson Avenue, and other "off-limits" areas of the city (aka "where white people aren't supposed to go"). As I have grown older, I have begun to embrace these parts of our city because, in reality, it is what the other half of the city feeds off of. It gives those people out in the suburbs a cause to rally against, something to point a finger at, those church-going minions something by which to define their own cultural standard.

It also creates a great deal of controversy within the black community here because upper and middle-class black families feel that they are "under-represented" or "misrepresented" in film which leads to racial stereotyping. What those proponents need to realize is simple: that is an issue which must be dealt with within the black community. One of the great points of the film is this: even if you make it, you're still trying to make it in this world. It is not a reason to attack the truth. The ugly, dirty truth, no matter how you want to sugar coat it or throw money at it, will always be the truth.

I have never been more proud than I was walking out of Hustle and Flow because, at the end of the day, it represents the best of who we are in the face of the worst of what we can be. This movie is no joke. This one is truly from the heart, almost too accurate for it to seem like a work of fiction. If you haven't gone to see it, make a date and go see it tonight.

Fuck what you heard about it misrepresenting Memphis from anywhere else. Anyone telling you that needs to quit hitting the snooze bar and wake their asses up. We've got nothing to hide, and thank you Craig Brewer for pulling back the covers on the real.

Where You'll Find Me Tonight

Come to the P&H and join us for comedy and good times before the Couples Costume Party @ the Buc!

Ever Wonder What Love In Action Looks Like?

THIS IS WHAT LOVE IN ACTION LOOKS LIKE

TWO RALLIES AT LOVE IN ACTION

Queer Action Coalition will be holding TWO rallies at Love in Action Headquarters 4780 Yale Rd., Memphis TN on FRIDAY, JULY 29TH...8:30-9:30a, and 4:00-5:30p

Please join us for what we anticipate will be the largest peaceful demonstration against the practices of "Love" in Action to date, and possibly the last for awhile. We anticipate major national media present and we hope that all of those who feel strongly about this issue will come show their support at either, if not both of these rallies. Please bring appropriate, non-judgemental, positive signs, banners, and attitudes.

LET'S SHOW THE WORLD
WHAT LOVE IN ACTION LOOKS LIKE.

Get directions here: "Love" in Action HQ.

Why We Can't Have Nice Things In Memphis

WARNING: A large amount of profanity will be in this post. If profanity offends you, turn back now.

Memphians, I'm calling you out. I live in this motherfucking city where people get some of the best music and musicians in the world. People want to come here. I mean, Memphis has been a bastion of popular music for over half a century. Some of the greatest music ever made came out of the delta, and the independent music movement was never more vital than it was in this city. All the more reason for people to have been at the Hi-Tone last night to see Blowfly, master of the XXX rated party record, credited by many as the original rapper (with his 1965 "Rap Dirty" record), one of the baddest motherfuckers that ever walked on a stage or played on a record.

In this week's Memphis Flyer, you can see a full-page article about Blowfly and what his genius means (thanks to Andrew Earles). For years, Blowfly has toured and played his brand of funky, dirty, filthy, comedic soul music for audiences the world over. He's sold thousands of records. He is flanked only by Dolemite himself (aka Rudy Ray Moore) as being one of the kings of the 70's party record scene. As Clarence Reid, the man behind the mask, he has written songs for dozens of musicians including K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Gwen McRae, Betty Wright, and Sam and Dave.

Which makes it hard to understand why a paltry 25 people showed up last night at the Hi-Tone to give Blowfly a big Memphis welcome.

Now, I could understand if it was just last night's show that I was calling out. But I'm calling out Memphis and Memphians in general for not supporting the club circuit because it's not just last night. It's been many, many nights this year. When good shows come through town, people look at the crowd and think, "This is what I drove out of my way for? To play for 20 people?" Blowfly didn't have to come to Memphis, he wanted to be here. Tim Easton, whom I was pleased & honored to play with on Wednesday, suffered the same fate.

Memphis audiences continue to go see the same six or seven bands/artists all the time, yet all I ever hear is people complaining that "no good bands ever come here". Can you blame them? When something good actually comes, the Memphis crew doesn't show up. You have some excuse, some reason you can't be there, something more important to do. If it were one time, I could probably understand that. But every time? There's no excuse here. Off the top of my head, I can remember Communique from New York playing to a measly 20 people at Young Avenue Deli, and an equally unimpressive number for VHS or Beta last November.

Blowfly put on a show that blew down the house, that tore a new asshole to every motherfucker that walked in that door last night. He let the dirty, filthy, triple-x rated party glory that is his marker to the world fly across and hit every audience member square between the eyes. Everyone laughed and shouted and danced their asses off, all 25 of us.

But did you see it? Probably not. You had to wash your hair last night. You had to get up early and do nothing tomorrow. You had to stay home and wait for the dope man. Or my favorite excuse from last night, "I didn't go because I already figured a ton of people would be there."

I love Memphis and I love my Memphis people. But I do not love it when so many of you bitch and moan and complain about good shows not coming here, and you can't even be bothered to make an appearance when the good ones do.

I want to present a picture to the world outside our fair city that we are supportive of musicians and artists. I have busted my ass to get artists to come here who otherwise would care less about coming to town, and I know other people who promote music have done the same. But how long do you expect us to have to lie to all these people before the rest of you start making what I'm telling them at least SEEM true?

The joke isn't funny anymore. And anyways, it's your fucking loss that you missed the full Blowfly outfit, complete with sequined mask, cape, and suit. It's your fucking fault that he sang every hit he had with all his heart backed up by his smoking band. It's your fucking fault that he walked out of this town, this man who SELLS OUT THE SHOW when he plays any major city in the United States, with enough money for gas to get to the next gig.

So please. Don't ask me anymore why no good music comes to Memphis. Don't talk to me about what you're gonna do and how you're gonna do it. You just keep on singing that same shitty fucking tune in your head and telling yourself how cool you are for singing it.

When the good stuff stops coming, Memphis, you'll have only yourselves to blame.

Why You Should Be At The Hi-Tone Wednesday Night

I have the great fortune to be performing on Wednesday night at the Hi-Tone with Tim Easton and Brett Krock (of The Lights). Tim is a singer-songwriter extraordinare whose newest recordings were done with Gary Louris (formerly of The Jayhawks). He has supported artists like John Hiatt, Alejandro Escovedo, Mark Eitzel, and The Cowboy Junkies. Tim is, admittedly, "living the itinerant folk singer lifestyle", and his live show is not to be missed.

Oh, yeah, and me and Brett are also playing.

Tim Easton - All The Pretty Girls Leave Town

MySpace Just Became MurdochSpace

According to The National Business Review, Rupert Murdoch (owner of damn near the whole universe) in another desperate attempt at reversing the aging process has officially taken the fun out of MySpace by acquiring the 47 percent of Intermix Media, the people who run MySpace, that it did not already own. The whole of MySpace, Grab.Com and others will be folded into the new Fox News Interactive Media department recently formed.

There goes the neighborhood.

LIA/R, QAC, LBE, Augustine, The Weekend, and Me

It seems like news is supposed to write itself or something. I now feel this obligation to update my blog more regularly, but as soon as I sit down to update I think, "Nothing is going on in my life that is really that exciting!" I don't want to bore people to death (ask Rachelandthecity if her head has recovered from it hitting the keyboard falling asleep while reading my Ubuntu post), so it's like I'd rather say nothing.

This weekend, two of my personal favorite bands, Augustine and Living Better Electrically graced Memphis with a show at Pho Hoa Binh (a staple among midtown Memphis restaurants) that left people totally breathless. The turnout was extremely good, the veggie egg rolls provided by PHB were amazing, and the performances were unbelievable. I love Augustine, everyone knows it, and I don't want to get all goofy about them right now -- they gave a phenomenal performance as they always do.

I can say one thing with great certainty: the fact that Living Better Electrically is not out touring against bands like The Killers, The Bravery, and all these other johnny-come-latelies is an engima to me. They have a sound so thick it can fill a stadium as easily as it filled the restaurant. Not a sour note in the bunch, not a missed chord, dropped phrasing....seriously, I just sit here dumbfounded wondering why are they not HUGE??

The entire crowd stared on in obliterated awe for just over an hour as LBE ripped through their set. New fans were made, many CD's were sold. It seems a great travesty that bands like The Bravery and The Killers are out there making tons of money while LBE struggle in relative obscurity. It's total fucking bullshit, actually.

News came that an article was published in the New York Times regarding LIA/R, and at last the great curse of mainstream media ignorance was officially broken. A big thanks to Alex Williams for the story, to Mark Benjamin at Salon.Com for his series (which is currently running at Salon), and of course to the Queer Action Coalition for never giving up.

I'm sure there's lots more to tell, but I'm running to the Post Office to deliver a package. Go down to Jerry's Sno-Cone on Mullins Station and get you a Wedding Cake-flavored Sno-Cone deluxe. It's pretty hot out there.

Joe Stark: A Model For Irresponsible Parenting

Apparently, Zach's father Joe Stark has spoken with CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network) about his decision to place Zach in the care of a "reparative therapy" program. One quote in the article, attributed to Mike Fleming, speaks volumes --

“The child services of the state dismissed the charges,” said Mike Fleming, a local radio host. “And I frankly think that the bottom line of this is that homosexuals are afraid that this does work, and they have set out to destroy “Love in Action.” I don't think there can be any doubt about that.”

Actually, Mike, there is strong evidence to prove that it not only doesn't work, it is psychologically damaging to both children and adults. But asking Mike Fleming to agree with me on something is like asking...well, like asking homosexuals to pretend they don't exist in order to satisfy a minority segment of the world.

This is not merely a Christ-centered ministry -- it is a program that misuses the foundations of Christianity combined with the language of professional therapy in an attempt to create a form of therapeutic self-help. The difference here is clear: Zach didn't ask for his parents to help him, he asked them to love and accept him unconditionally. Conditional love is not true love, and Christianity addresses that too, doesn't it?

I find it disconcerting that anyone would allow their religious hubris to become so immense that they are willing to sacrifice their own safety and security and that of their own child. I urge anyone reading this that to control your anger. Please do not contact his family. No matter how angry you are, acting out on your anger will destroy any potentially positive dialogue which can come from all of this.

I might just add that CBN did not contact me for the following quote:

“When you ask someone to live in a lie, it's a dangerous, dangerous slope that you're running down,” one protestor said.

They pulled it off of a local TV broadcast where I was interviewed. Thanks for not naming me by name.

Please don't be fooled: CBN News is not news at all. It is another small news organization with dreams of being its own Al-Jazeera, and it certainly is no better.

More on this story as it develops.

UPDATE: The CBN video of the 700 Club show can be found by clicking here. You'll need Windows Media Player to watch it (CBN discriminates against Apple users as well).

Kubuntu: Because Ubuntu Just Wasn't Enough

Thanks to the suggestion of a user, my Linux project continued through the week with the installation of Kubuntu, a KDE version of the Ubuntu installation I had already fallen in love with. This thing is SOLID and appeared to be much more stable than simple Ubunutu.

What's different: the desktop is no longer the default GNOME desktop. In addition, there are some KDE-only pre-installed packages that come with Kubuntu. The whole package runs much smoother on my computer and, even with richer feature and content, seems to be more robust.

Upgrading from within Ubuntu was simple. I opened a command window and typed "sudo apt-get install kubuntu-desktop" and, within moments, an installation using the internet began. Install time: approx. 15 minutes.

The KDE desktop is far more solid than before, and is customizable in a way that is attractive without being bulky. It reminds me somewhat of Mac OSX actually in the way it is laid out. It gives you 4 desktops by default, plus Konqueror (a web and file browser), Kontact (a personal contacts manager), KWiFi (a wireless LAN manager), and a host of other cool features.

Installing upgrades to built-in packages was simple. By typing 'sudo apt-get update' from a command window, it connects to the internet to download and install updates to packages.

Using Mozilla Firefox makes life easier than Internet Exploder ever did. Firefox is the best browser out there, and using it under Kubuntu is even further proof. Installing plug-ins was a breeze. Speeding up Firefox is a breeze with this handy hack from FreeRepublic, and it makes an unbelievable difference no matter what operating system you are running.

Linux is fairly safe from viruses with the exception of those created in the Windows world. But just to be sure, I installed ClamAV, a free Linux-based virus scanner which updates its definitions using the internet.

You can run some Windows-based apps under Linux using the WINE open source Windows API emulator for Linux. The drawback: it doesn't do everything, but it does enough that it's worth using. I couldn't get it to work with my favorite poker software, but it seems to work with Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop CS.

Overall Rating for Kubuntu (so far): A-

Mark Your Calendars -- Saturday July 16th at Pho Hoa Binh -- Augustine with Living Better Electrically

This is an All Ages Show, beer available to patrons 21 and over with valid photo ID. This is going to be an amazing show, bring your friends!

Download: Living Better Electrically - Aye, Me

Love You, E.J.-- My Trip To Love In Action/Refuge's Open Meeting

"Love You, Tommy" they all said simultaneously, echoing the sentiment that Love In Action was attempting to carry forward with its agenda unwavered by the trickle of outsiders who had chosen to attend their monthly "Family & Friends" open meeting. For my part, I decided to arrive somewhat incognito -- sans my traditional baseball cap and without having shaven, dressed relatively nicely, and trying my best to blend in with the crowd. Members of the QAC were in attendance with me, along with the president of our local PFLAG chapter, several people who have taken active interest in this story since day one, and a writer for the New York Times named Alex Williams.

I actually worked very hard to seperate myself from the other non-participating observers at the meeting because I wanted to stay very focused on what I would see and hear, to take all of it in. This was, after all, the mouth of the beast. If I were even allowed inside this open meeting, it would mean I would have to pay very careful attention.

A clipboard was being passed around, and one of the other "casual observers" was being pointed by Tommy Corman, Love In Action's media relations coordinator, to sign the non-disclosure agreement it contained. "Why do I need to sign a confidentiality agreement?" the woman asked. "I am not required to sign anything and I'm not going to sign anything." Without incident, Corman walked away. Later, I would overhear the woman being told by another observer that as guests of Love In Action/Refuge, we would have to sign anything that they asked us to.

Unlike others that had seen the clipboard, I neither was asked to sign nor did the notion of signing it come into question. I had made it through the door without fear of being recognized, or so it seemed.

There, across the circle from me, sat Zach, flanked by other Love In Action/Refuge clients and a gentleman who may well have been his father. He looked straight at me but did not acknowledge me, likely for fear that it would break one of the rules.

Three boxes of tissues were placed in the middle of the floor and as the meeting began, the group's "norms" were spoken individually by various group members.

The actual content of the meeting is something that I am not allowed to discuss because of my own beliefs about the sanctity of group therapy.

Wait, did I just say "group therapy"? Why, yes, I absolutely did.

Doesn't therapy require a license in the State of Tennessee? That's what we're waiting to find out about, I gather.

What I can say without betraying any trust: what I saw inside this meeting was not simply the ministerial meanderings of Love in Action (though a great deal of preaching and proselytizing did go on). The format was pure group therapy modified for the purposes of some theatrical gesturing on the part of its practitioners.

Everyone I interacted with was keenly aware of the presence of outsiders and were quick to behave in a manner accordant with that premise. Testimonials happened, and if any evidence existed to suggest that this was what took place regularly during any open meeting at LIA/R, I did not see it.

After the meeting, I was approached by one of the staff members who recognized me from the demonstrations just weeks before. "I prayed that you would come to this meeting, and clearly my prayers were answered," he said. Everyone was all smiles, cheerful, upbeat, friendly. When I would shake hands with or talk to members of the group, it would be as sweet as could be. But when I walked away, in my peripheral vision I could see a deep-seated fear from each one.

Were they afraid that I was out to take away their lifeline to their understanding of Jesus Christ, or were they fearful that I had actually embraced a real truth beyond their understanding? Were they praying for me, or were they praying for themselves that they were right and I was wrong? I could not tell you which one, but I can say that I doubt Zach buys into a great deal of what they are saying. It was related to me that he rolled his eyes at certain things, but it's a bit like interpreting something you read on the internet -- you can't know for sure what the total meaning is when that statement/situation contains no inflection.

One thing about cults: you can never really tell what the damage will be until months, years later. I only hope for Zach's sake that this experience does not cause him more emotional turmoil or internal conflict about who he is.

Some of the smartest people I know have been lured by the conscience of groups like Love In Action. For a moment, I myself was even swayed. It has taken me this entire week to process what I experienced, and I'm still not done.

Imogen Heap's "Speak For Yourself" Is Now On Pre-Order

If you're like me, you've already flipped out over Imogen Heap's peerlessly-beautiful sophomore solo album entitled Speak For Yourself. It will doubtlessly be on my year's top ten, I've listened to it so much that my words can't express how much I enjoy it. If you've been visiting the site for a while, you know that there has been advance listening of the record going on for quite some time -- you scroll down my page and look under "Streaming Audio -Best of 2005" and click on the link.

Strangely, I never could find out when the record would actually be released, even the official Imogen Heap website was totally unclear about any release dates (particularly for the U.S. where the record should be HUGE). Well, the wait for purchase of this gem is over. Click here to advance order the CD direct from the UK. The UK release hits the street on July 18th -- and I just bought mine.

If you're one of the first 500 purchasers, you'll be the recipient of a personally-autographed copy. Normally, I don't get all gurgling fan-boy joyous about the prospect of a signed CD. But if I had my way about things, by this time next year everyone will already know who Imogen Heap is & I will have a cherishable keepsake to remind me of my own efforts at spreading the word of this phenomenal recording. Go Immi!

Woke Up Quick At About Noon Just Knowin' That I Had To Be In Midtown Soon

It looks like Hurricane Dennis will just barely miss Memphis, but the rain is a welcome retreat from the hellish temperatures we've been having. I fully welcome any tropical storm that brings cool weather to the Mid-South. The dog days of summer are in full effect, and when the afternoon comes down like a burning ember on your face, it sometimes makes it difficult to update. After a hot, dry spell of almost six days, during which so much happened, I figured I might as well try updating for a minute.

First of all, there were MANY birthdays this week amongst my friends. A big happy birthday goes out to J-Witnesse, Nathan, Piper, Marcus, and Dan and, of course, to any other July birthday folks I missed. All of your parties were attended, and all were enjoyed.

The Makeshift Records benefit at the Hi-Tone last Friday night was a success. Thanks to everyone who came, they were able to raise a great deal of money for the future endeavors of their cooperative. Stay tuned for the next Makeshift benefit coming soon.

This coming Saturday, be sure and come to Pho Hoa Binh on Madison for Augustine and Living Better Electrically. It's an all-ages show, the cover is only $5, and they do serve beer (to people 21 and up with valid driver's license). The following Wednesday, July 20th, I'll be making a live appearance at The Hi-Tone with the amazing Tim Easton (a wonderful singer/songwriter who has just finished recording with Gary Louris of The Jayhawks), and Bret Preston (of The Lights).

Finally (at least for right this moment), I'm looking for anyone who is studying radio or television broadcasting at the University of Memphis to get in touch with me. I have some questions I'd like to ask about an upcoming project. If you know of anyone, have them get in touch with me thru my MySpace profile or thru my Blogger profile.

Now, don't stress out too hard. This crisis will be all over soon and then there will be another one to have to deal with, so try to keep an even keel? Word.

My Friend Nathan Convinced Me To Try Ubuntu Linux.

I have had it with Microsoft products, but I have these computers here that I can't just throw away. I've been a MS junkie from the word go, and for years I've tried to reconcile my need for all that is Windows by trying, half-heartedly, to install a Linux distribution that was easy to use and had the basic functionality I needed. Last night, as we sat around catching up, I brought up the subject of Linux to my friends Nathan and Tim. Nathan, whose laptop recently crashed, gave me the impetus to try an easy-installing version of Linux called Ubuntu -- and I gotta say, it's the goods.

For starters, the very name "Ubuntu" has weight -- according to ubuntulinux.org, "it's an ancient African word meaning 'humanity to others'. Ubuntu also means 'I am what I am because of who we all are'." Well, okay, that sounds like something I'm into just for the name. I figure I'll give it a whirl.

My System:
Compaq 5840 System with 533mhz Intel Celeron Processor (x86)
512MB RAM
13GB Seagate Hard Drive
Memorex 48/24/48 CDRW
Built-In Video/Sound Card

I downloaded the "Hoary Hedgehog" Ubuntu 5.04 CD image (about 600 megs of download), and I burned it -- the whole thing fits on a single CD. After burning the image, I prepared my old beater of a box for the new system. I used Seagate DiscWizard to write zeros to the hard drive, then used the DiscWizard to format the hard drive for Windows 98 SE (which makes it a FAT32 drive for those who know such things).

I put the Ubuntu installer disc in the CD-Rom drive and booted it up. At the first screen, I installed it for a single system and VOILA! The installer was off and running. The installation process took about 30 minutes (comparable to Windows).

Once installed, it was easy to log in to the GNOME desktop (a graphical interface that actually resembles the Windows interface) and get started. Because I run through a router, I had to set up the Networking for DHCP (so it would get the address from my router).

It takes a bit of time to get to learn how Linux works as opposed to Windows, but there are innumerable comparable programs and packages available for Linux that I never dreamed of! This even comes with OpenOffice, an open source office program that has great functionality for email. GAIM (an instant messenger client) comes pre-installed and allows me to connect to multiple messenger services all at once (ICQ, AIM, MSN). Mozilla Firefox comes built-in as the web browser, and everything glides along so smoothly.

Even on my old system, it was like running a brand new computer out of the box.

One drawback to installing Linux: for some people is that there aren't drivers for Linux available for many types of hardware. Ubuntu seemed to automatically detect all of my hardware flawlessly, install the correct drivers, and go immediately.

I'll keep you updated on how it's running. For now, if you have an old computer and some extra time, I recommend trying Ubuntu to get it up and running. It's a clean, fast, and very user-friendly Linux installation that compensates greatly for the headaches that current versions of Windows so frequently present. If you're already a Linux fan, please feel free to leave comments regarding your experiences with Ubuntu and packages you've tried.

I Expect To See You At The Glass' CD Release Party at Young Avenue Deli Tonight.

The effort it takes to bring something into the world often parallels how glorious that thing turns out to be. Take the case of Memphis band The Glass, a band whose second full-length CD, entitled Hibernation fits neatly into this paradigm for not only how it sounds but for how difficult it was in coming to fruition.

The record was originally nearly finished when, in early March, Easley-McCain Recording services caught fire leaving the tracks irretriveable. A series of personal difficulties plagued the band in and around the same time. The disenchantment felt by the band's members in personal issues extended into their professional lives with the immense weight of the record's loss. But like Michael Jordan with the flu, the band refused to be knocked down, re-tracked the entire album during one grueling week, and have come back to mark this testament to their hard work as their highest-scoring game thus far.

When you see them tonight at the Young Avenue Deli, it is important that you buy the record. It's important not just for the story but for the music the album contains. The great reward promised in the frame of a new house can only be fully understood when you can see how beautiful the finished home truly is. This is what great music, at its core, is all about. The Glass have built a palace from ashes, and we should all feel so lucky that we get to walk inside and bask in the phoenix glow for ourselves.

I Would Be Remiss If I Overlooked Today's Biggest Announcement -- Vacancy On The Supreme Court

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a moderate-conservative and the first woman ever to serve on the Supreme Court, important for her voting record on issues like abortion and the 2000 election, has announced her retirement from the high court. It is the first retirement in 11 years and, most surprisingly, preceeded that of expected retirement by ailing Chief Justice William Rehnquist. It was an announcement almost surely expected in the nation's capitol, but one which has shocked the press corps nonetheless.

This signals an important moment in American politics, one in which conservatives will be faced with a looming challenge from moderates and liberals as to their respective special interests in keeping the court fairly balanced. It goes without saying that a primary, though frequently glossed-over, contention of the 2004 election was the certainty that a retirement would create a divisive, and certainly heated, battle for confirmation of a new justice amongst members of the Senate.

We should all be paying close attention right now. The future of our country and, likely, many of the freedoms which we take for granted are once again under fire. What will it take to convince people of all viewpoints that equality must truly mean equality for all people, not only those with the most money and power?

To my friends who think it's a losing battle, I can only say that until the battle is fought there is no way to know. America's perceived "conservatism" is merely that: a perception. The "silent majority" will lose their voice if they remain silent through what is soon to come.

State of Tennessee Opens New Probe Into Love In Action -- "Suspected of Operating Illegally"

According to a story published today in The Blade, Eartha Melzer confirms that the State of Tennessee has opened an investigation into licensing at the facility -- a much more serious problem which will likely cause Love In Action to come under deep fire.

The story, courtesy of Eartha Melzer and The Washington Blade:

The Tennessee Department of Health has sent a letter to Love in Action notifying the group that it is suspected of operating illegally, according to Andrea Turner, communications director for the department.

Turner said that if the program is strictly faith-based it would not require licensing by the state, but that according to the group’s Web site, Love in Action has licensed counselors and provides services related to alcohol and drug addiction on site.

“If this is the case, they are required to be licensed as a drug and alcohol treatment facility in Tennessee,” Turner said.

If employees there are providing counseling on homosexuality, it is possible that they are operating outside their area of expertise, Turner added.

Dr. Warren Throckmorton, a psychologist at faith-based Grove City College in Pennsylvania and a leading advocate for the view that sexual orientation can be changed, said that he believes that Love in Action is mixing ministry with treatment and that people can be damaged by sexual reorientation therapies offered by unprofessional practitioners.

Throckmorton emphasized that while a parent might compel a teen to attend church, a professional counselor is bound to obtain informed consent from a client and should not treat a minor solely because his parents are upset about his sexual orientation.

Love in Action advertises a therapeutic environment in which professional counselors help people overcome “addictive behaviors including homosexuality.”

Definitely read the entire story here. I think something is happening. Happy Indepenedence Day.

[ DOWNLOAD OF THE DAY: Elliott Smith - Independence Day ]